Defenceless among predators: such is the situation of Christians. And this is how Christ Himself described it. But He also shows us the way through and out.
Jesus Himself used the image of herd animals and predators when He appointed seventy disciples and sent them out two by two to proclaim the kingdom of God: “Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves” (Luke 10: 3).
“This was not just a word for the disciples two thousand years ago,” Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider emphasised in a divine service on 21 September 2025 in Bangalore, India. “Jesus has also called us, each and every one of us, to preach the kingdom of God and to contribute to His plan of salvation here and now.” And the story of the lamb and the wolf is more relevant than ever.
The wolf in us
Jesus, who describes Himself as the good shepherd, deliberately chose the lamb as an image for His disciples: a gentle, vulnerable animal that could hardly defend itself, let alone attack. “Sometimes it seems as if we are weak because Jesus tells us, ‘Do no evil. You must forgive. You must do good.’”
And on the other side is the wolf, a fearsome predator. “The Bible uses the image of the wolf to describe the powers that want to hinder the plan of salvation, namely the enemies of Christ,” the Chief Apostle explained. But there are also people who act like wolves, he said.
- People who are no longer guided by values, but by egoism: “What matters to them is money, power, and glory. They want it all, whatever the cost. There is no compassion: I want it, I need it, I’ll take it!”
- People who pounce on the defenceless in packs: “The youth will understand this. Just look at what is happening on the internet. On social media they attack the poor and the weak.”
- False prophets who twist the gospel for their own benefit: “They preach the gospel, but only because they hope to reap personal benefits to line their own pockets.”
The campaign of the lambs
One can certainly feel helpless in the face of such “wolves”. Is it not pointless to tell people about eternal life who only think about their material well-being? Is it not futile to promote love, humility, and forgiveness in a world that seems governed by the law of the jungle?
The Chief Apostle explained what needs to be done and what can be done:
- Believe in your calling and trust the Sender. “Believe that God loves you and would never ask you to do anything that He knows you cannot do. Trust in His power and truth. He has promised to complete His work of salvation, and He will do so.”
- Remain a disciple of Jesus. “Let us opt to follow Christ and do His will. Even if you seem weak, forgive. Even if nobody notices and it seems useless, be kind and do good.”
- Understand your own mission correctly. “Our mission is not to convert everyone. Our mission is just to prove, here and now, that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth, that we can do the will of God and live according to the rules of God, and that this is a source of blessing, joy and peace.”
“Everything else is none of our business, it is God’s business. He will complete His work,” Chief Apostle Schneider emphasised. However, not as we imagine, he said. “He will complete His work in a way that we cannot imagine, in a way we cannot understand. I cannot tell you how He will do it. I have no idea, but I know that He will do it and that all who remain true disciples of Jesus Christ will receive eternal life.”
Photos: NAC India
